The Bible - Could you believe just the red lettering (Jesus Words) alone?
This is a question I have asked before and have had some seriously disappointing answers:
If Jesus was/is God (Son of God) then his words, the red letters in the New Testament, should be enough to base your faith around Yes? No? Why or why not?
If yes, where does that leave the rest of the Bible? Why do you think people added to the words of 'truth' and recorded their own 'spin' on his simple message?
If no, were Jesus' words not enough for truth and did he not say enough? Why do you need more than the red letters to live and believe?
2006-10-12 00:51:08 · 15 answers · asked by quay_grl 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Firstly - I should mention I would like Christians to answer this, and please stick to the question. Thanks!
2006-10-12 00:55:35 · update #1
I'm not a Christian but about the only parts of the bible I do read are Christ's moral teachings. Forgetting about the theology I find the teachings of this man inspiring and uplifting. It's a shame he has been tainted with religion and supposed divinity instead of being seen as what he was-an enlightened teacher.
2006-10-12 01:01:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Hi quay
Your question is a very good one. Because it's important to know just what is trustworthy.
Some editions of the Bible put Jesus' words in red letters to distinguish them from the rest. Some believers object to this because they feel that if all the Bible is God's Word, one should not distinguish one part as being more authoritative than an other.
The reality is that Jesus words wee recorded by His disciples, and because of the united testimony of the four Gospel writers, we feel we can trust their testimony.
I believe all of the Bible is God's Word.
However, let's assume you start out by trusting only the words that came out of Jesus' mouth. I think you could not go far wrong doing that. Because Jesus states several times that the Old Testament has the authority of God's Word. And in the Gospel of John, chapter 16, verse 26, Jesus states that the Holy Spirit will remind the disciples of all His teaching and will teach them all things. So those apostles seem to have divine authority as well. That means the whole New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit, according to what Jesus says. So as we put our faith in what you call the 'red print', and study those words, we end up putting our confidence in pretty much the rest of the Bible.
So yes, start with the red print and you'll be alright! May God's Holy Spirit guide you.
2006-10-12 23:21:39 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible is a handbook for a relationship with GOD. Of course the words of Jesus are important he is the living water of life. Jesus quoted tons of scripture when he was here. It is the scriptures that point to and validate Jesus. I pull inspiration from all over the Bible. There is more to GOD then Jesus alone. There is also a Father and a Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit I am dead meat. So yes Jesus is the word of GOD in the flesh. Jesus is GOD in the flesh. Jesus is also the subject of the whole Bible. Not just the red print.
IMHO
May GOD richly bless you.
2006-10-12 08:04:51 · answer #3 · answered by Bye Bye 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a free will, so you can chose to believe red lettering n the Bible. I believe that the Bible is true, and as it is written by humans, it is inspired by God.
Like Genesis, it is God's eyewitness account on what happened in the beginning. The main thing is that you believe that Jesus Christ is a son of living God, our Lord and Savior. You confess your sins and you repent.
Paul is telling how to become a Christian, James ( The half brother of Jesus ) goes more into detail about what is next once you have accepted Jesus.
The Bible is very reliable. Many prophecies of the Old Testament has been coming true. When Jesus referred to the Scripture, it was a of course a New Testament.
The New Testament is full of stories shared by people who knew Jesus personally, dined with Him, traveled with Him, followed Him, they witnessed His miracles, they were taught by Him...And Luke, who was a great historian, had the urgency to write things down so we would not miss anything.
Jesus' words are enough, but I long to know more of Him, so to me it is interesting to read what people has to say about Him who actually knew Him or were friends with people who knew Him. I know Him personally too, but I have to wait until I get to heaven to actually see Him. That is going to be a great day!
2006-10-12 08:08:52 · answer #4 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think the red letter words are the words we are to live our life by. But without the rest of the bible you would have no idea of where everything started and how the birth of Christ tied into the lineage of King David, therefore making Him a Jew. Which makes his persecution by them in the old days even more ironic. The later writing of the apostles is equally important as it describes how they went out and followed in Jesus' footsteps spreading his word to all who would listen in order to give all men a chance to get to heaven through Jesus, even if they were not of Gods chosen peoples. It is a body with all of it's independent parts. All of the parts have a specific function and the body cannot be whole without all of the parts performing their specific job.
2006-10-12 08:01:42 · answer #5 · answered by mortgagegirl101 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sadly many Christians do not give much thought to the red letter words. Most evangelicals give more weight to the epistles of Paul than to the words of Jesus. They are actually Paulians not Christians. I believe that the whole Bible is the inspired word of God and has much to teach us, but it is the words of Jesus that should carry the most importance in what we believe and how we act. There would be more people willing to accept the teachings of Christ if they say Christians actually living out the words of Christ.
Look at the current example of the Amish community of Lancaster county. They are certainly living out Christ's teaching of forgiveness and love. People are noticing and being intrigued by it.
2006-10-12 08:15:10 · answer #6 · answered by anyonexxxxxx9999 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I believe I could base my faith on just the Red Lettering. But since God thought enough of mankind to give him the entire Bible
I don't see any reason to reject any part of it.
I Cr 13;8a
10-12-6
2006-10-12 08:02:57 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because if the red letters were the only thing that we needed to believe then that would have been the bible to begin with, but it's not. So do you not think then, that we should pay attention to the ten commandments? What about the creation story in the very beginning?
2006-10-12 07:54:43 · answer #8 · answered by ms.melancholy 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Umm, no. Jesus pointed the way to God. The entire Bible are the words of God, we need them all.
The words of Jesus show us a clear and easy path to get to God. But we need all of it, not just His words.
But yes, His words were enough to get me started, He did say enough.
2006-10-12 08:16:03 · answer #9 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nobody actually knows exactly what JESUS said since HE was speaking to so many at various places and times. certainly HIS messages must have been similar in content but the wording may have been different some of the time from place to place.
2006-10-12 08:33:21 · answer #10 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋